95 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, June 2010

The 1999 Unico delivers an ethereal bouquet of smoke, pencil lead, violets, leather, incense, black cherry, and blackberry. Already complex on the palate thanks to its lengthy upbringing, this opulent wine has layers of black fruit flavor, impeccable balance, and another twenty years of life ahead. It is being re-released this year because there is no 2001. Bodegas Vega Sicilia remains a benchmark for the world's great red wines. The Valbuena bottling receives 3 years in barrel and 2 years in bottle prior to release. On the occasion of my visit in May 2010, the three Reserva Especials already in bottle and awaiting release were tasted side by side. They are identified (for the purposes of this review only) as the 2013 Release, the 2012 Release, and the 2011 Release. I was not told what vintages are in each bottling but it actually makes little difference. The Reserva Especials are blended to a house style designed to reflect Vega Sicilia at its very best. The vagaries of vintage (as reflected in Unico) are blended away leaving a wine that is, in my opinion, better than any of the single vintage wines with the possible exception of the 1942.

96 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, September 2009

($450) Ruby-red. Shockingly deep in color for a ten-year-old wine. Explosive aromas of cherry compote, black raspberry, blood orange, Asian spices and smoky minerals. Pure, vibrant and sweet, offering intense cherry and red berry flavors, with tangy mineral spine and an exotic smokiness. Extremely deep but energetic, with a powerful echo of minerals and singed orange on the endless finish. This is remarkably youthful but highly alluring already.

94 points,

Wine Spectator, November 2009

Elegant and expressive, this supple, traditional red shows cherry, floral, vanilla and mineral notes that are both harmonious and intense. Not a blockbuster, but remains fresh and alluring through the spicy finish. Drink now through 2014. 8,500 cases made

About Winery

Eloy, son of Toribio Lecanda, founder of the Vega Sicilia winery in 1864, bought 18,000 shoots of cabernet sauvignon, malbec, merlot and pinot noir in Bordeaux, to be used in the making of brandy and ratafias. In 1876, in the Philadelphia Fair, Lecanda obtained a quality certificate for his brandies. That same year, he succeeded in achieving the position as supplier to the Royal Family, and in 1880, he obtained the Grand Cross of Isabel the Catholic; all before the birth of the red wine that was to make the company famous.

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